Freezing, Lifting, and Care of the Sick
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Bodywork Highlights at Morris Show
BODYWORK highlights of the Morris Commercial Show, which opened at Longbridge on Monday and closes today. include a refrigerated vehicle designed for operation in Gibraltar and Spain; two electrically operated tailboard lifts; an all-plastics ambulance with pneumatic suspension; and,a modified version of a well-known demountable body system. Sonic 170 vehicles are on display, the chas.sis covering the entire Morris commercial vehicle range.
Destined to leave for Gibraltar in a few days with a load of English frozen fruit, the refrigerated van shown by Normand, Ltd., Park Royal, London, N.W.10, is designed to operate in ambient temperatures up to 90/100° F. The van is mounted on an FG 3-ton oil-engined chassis and is equipped with ThermoKing refrigerating plant (externally above the cab), operated by a petrol engine. si+hich affords temperature control of plus or minus 2/3° F.
Air-blast cooling is employed, the cold air being blown across the top of the van and returned to a fan inlet at the base of the front bulkhead. Interesting features of the system include a micro-switch which breaks the blower circuit when the door is opened and " flap-flap " inner doors that reduce the ingress of warm air when the operator enters the van. The electrical system can operate on a 3-phase current of 230 v. or 380 v. A sun shield is fitted above the roof of the van.
Extending Shutters
Based on a similar chassis, a Normand confectionery van is fitted with four shelves on each side, and four roller shutters are installed behind the front bulkhead at shelf level in each case. These shutters can be extended the entire length of the shelves to form full-width platforms.
Power for operating the Vanlift tail)oard loader, as evolved for small vans by service Engineering Co. (Northampton), Ltd., Weedon Road. Northampton. is derived from a battery-energized electric motor driving a hydraulic pump which supplies fluid to rams housed in the guide supports of the inclined lifting arms. Whilst the capacity of the vehicle battery is sufficient for the majority of applications a modified version of the system is being developed for multi-drop short-distance work in which the pump is driven from the gearbox power take-off.
The loader displayed at Longbridge is fitted in a Wadham van body based on an LD.4 1-ton petrol-engined chassis. The loading plafform is raised from floor level to vehicle floor height in a few seconds and is folded back into the, van when not in use. Lifting capacities vary from 2-1 cwt. to 7 cwt. according to the model.
Electric Lifting Gear In the case of the loader shown by R. A. Neaverson, Ltd., Abbey Lane, Leicester, the lifting gear comprises an electric motor fitted externally in a compartment above the cab which drives the winding drum and thereby actuates wire lifting ropes. Inclined guide rails are attached to the sides of the body, the platform of which is steeply ramped at the rear to accommodate the loader. The equipment is fitted in a Neaverson body mounted on an FG 4-ton oil-engincd chassis.
The lifting gear has a capacity of 15 cwt., and is of the type developed by the company for meat loading. Raising the platform to vehicle floor level requires 45 seconds, and it is claimed that a load corresponding to three times the rated capacity of the vehicle can be handled without excessive discharge of the vehicle battery. A slipping clutch protects the motor and wire ropes against overload or misuse. The equipment is being demonstrated as an aid to handling a two-wheeled trolley designed to facilitate multiple stacking of special bottle crates.
Known as the Series 6, a new ambulance shown by Wadham Bros. (Coach builders), Ltd., Waterlooville, Hants, is mounted on an FG ambulance chassis equipped with Dunlop Pnetride air suspension. This is the latest type of all plastics body produced by the company and comprises 45 colour-impregnated mouldings. It is reported by the concern that all-plastics ambulance bodies are becoming increasingly popular on account of the reduction in maintenance, repair and painting costs they are claimed to provide
Built-in Jacks
A notable feature of the latest form of Cargon freighting systems exhibited by Cargoo Transport, Ltd., 5 Bean Road. Tipton, Staffs (in conjunction with a 7-ton oil-engined chassis), is the use of built-in hydraulic jacks for adjusting the level of the vehicle platform to that of the loading deck. This enables an external elevating system to be dispensed with and the cost of static installation to be reduced. The jacks are fitted between the chassis frame and the rear axle and are actuated manually 13,) a lever located on the off side at the rear.